Hi folks!
I run a professional services company that does business across the USA, and often overseas. We've been in business for around two decades. Finding that elusive content that yields high search engine ranking really isn't a problem for me. My problem is how to organize massive amounts of content.
This is how I find and develop content:
1. I'm constantly messing around with Google with keyword phrases. How might people search for what we're offering, but where we don't have a presence for those phrases? Let''s say there's one phrase and a closely-related second phrase.
2. I find a writer. Often I use Craig's List. Go to Gigs > Writing. Post an ad. Ten bucks. In it, mention the topic, say respondents must be knowledgeable on the subject, indicate the length (my articles run 1,200 words, minimum) and turnaround time. Ask them to name a price. Indicate payment is in cash upon acceptance. Include the name or URL of your business so the writer has reason to believe you're for real and won't rip them off. In the posting process you'll be asked to name a price. Put: Negotiable.
3. I strongly suggest that you do not use those "hire a freelance writer" websites. Working with a writer via those places is a royal pain in the backside. Communications have to go through the the website. You can't call up the writer and kick around ideas. And many of those writers are way overseas. Often they think they have American English down cold. Reality: They often don't. So you don't.
4. Sit back and chill as the offers pour in. In my experience, the ones who respond quickest are the most expensive. Don't respond. Give it a few days. Writers are always looking for work and you'll hear from writers everywhere. I expect to pay about $75.
5. Choose one or a few writers of interest. Give them the target keyword phrases. Very important: There's no end to the BS content that turns up in a search. Often, business owners get their content by mining other websites. Forget about doing that...
please. Capitalize on your writer's topic knowledge. You need to tell them to make the article:
.....A. Original.
.....B. Useful.
.....C. Informative.
.....D. Entertaining, and
.....E. Helpful.
6. Why "original, useful, informative entertaining and helpful"? If it's not original content, they've seen it before. Don't bore people. You don't just want visitors to visit. You also want them to stick around to read. Why?
.....A. Certifies you as an expert on the topic and customers/clients want to do business with experts.
.....B. Many SEOs believe time on the page improves search engine rankings.
.....C. Down near the bottom, once the reader has been impressed with its originality, utility, has been informed, and has been entertained, it's time to close the deal. Show the reader how your business can help them.
.....D. If you publish great stuff, you'll get inbound links.
7. Hire the writer. Discuss how to approach the topic. If the writer is overly concerned about getting paid, whip out a one-page contract. I tell them I pay upon acceptance. The writer gets a byline, but the article becomes the property of my company once paid for. Get that bit in writing; via email works. Explain the keyword phrases and indicate to the writer to use natural language. No keyword stuffing. Make sure the target keyword phrases and the article are a match.
8. Examine the article. If you were crystal clear with the writer, what you receive ought to closely meet your expectations. Writers are loads of fun to work with. Often what you get back will be brain boggling. Edit as necessary, and notify the writer the work has been accepted.
9. Pay the writer immediately. Writers like to get paid. :) Take care of the writer and that writer will take care of you come the next article.
10. Find a photo or a graphic to enhance the article. I buy photos online and many are cheap. Or grab your phone and shoot your own pics. Sometimes I hire an artist, using that same classifieds website, or a freelancer site. If you're hiring an artist to make a custom graphic, just clearly explain what you need and you'll get it. I recently had an idea for a comical Christmas card. I used a freelancer site, found an artist, explained what I wanted, checked the first draft, made a few changes, then paid for the final work. The finished cards are printed and I'm just waiting for Thanksgiving to be over.
11. Create a webpage. Primary keyword phrase goes in the title tag; both keyword phrases appear in the headline text. Again, always natural language. If you're selling a product, make sure the product page and the article are together or closely linked.
Let Google and that other search engine do the rest.
Wash, rinse and repeat for every product or service, or groups thereof. So much for the content problem. I don't know if this approach will work for you, but it certainly works for me. Good luck!
[edited by: Robert_Charlton at 2:14 pm (utc) on Oct 19, 2022]
[edit reason] Simplified.... [/edit]
